Preview of End of the Great Tribulation

Revelation 14:1-20

The Establishing of the Kingdom, vv. 1-5

A. The Lamb and 144,000 will stand on Mount Zion victorious.

1. John hears “a voice from heaven.” Clearly, he is on earth.
2. The 144,000

a. Play harps, compare Revelation 5:8

b. Sing a new song of victory in a new experience.

c. They reign with Christ, v. 3

B. The Character of the 144,000

1. They are redeemed through the Tribulation.
2. They are virgins / pure spiritually. They are not defiled by spiritual adultery. See 2 Kings 19:21; Isaiah 37:22; Lamentations 2:13; Jeremiah 18:13; 31:34; Amos 5:2.
3. They are the firstfruits of those saved during the Tribulation.
4. They have no guile or bitterness of their trials.

The Pouring Out of the Bowls of Wrath, vv. 6-13

A. During the Judgment, God uses both people and angels to preach the Gospel and announce God’s wrath.

B. The Fall of Babylon, v. 8

Babylon refers to the apostate religious-political system, headed by the False Prophet and Beast, with the apostate world church. See Revelation 17:1-18; 18:1-24.

C. The Final Judgments, vv. 9-13

1. 7 Bowls of God’s wrath, no mixture of grace.
2. Those with the Mark of the Beast will suffer eternal torment.
3. The Tribulation believers, however, will rest from their labors and be blessed. Perseverance by the Tribulation saints is needed.
4. Death: For the believer, death is a blessing; for the unsaved, a curse.

The Fighting of the Battle of Armageddon, vv. 14-20

A. John sees Christ on a white cloud.

1. When He came the first time, He came as a Sower of the Seed; but people rejected the Word, Matthew 13:3-23.
2. Now He comes with a sickle / judgment as a Reaper.

B. Events leading up to the Battle of Armageddon

1. First 3.5 yrs of the Tribulation

a. The Beast worked with Israel.

b. Russia and Egypt attacked Israel.

c. The Beast goes to Palestine to keep his treaty with Israel.

d. God defeats Russia; the Beast defeats Egypt.

e. The Beast sets himself up as a god and world dictator.

f. Russia and her allies plan a rebellion.

g. After Babylon is destroyed, the enemies of the Beast attack.

2. Second 3.5 yrs of the Great Tribulation

a. Armies move against Palestine to fight the Beast, John 16:13-16.

b. The Second Coming of Christ, Revelation 19:17-21

1) the Reaper thrusts His sickle and slices the armies to death.

2) Blood will run for 200 miles out of Jerusalem, and as deep as the horses’ bridle.

Lessons from this Preview:

1. Christ will establish His kingdom on earth in spite of Satan’s opposition.
2. Those who reject the Gospel today will face awful judgment in the future.
3. The nations of the world are gearing up for the Battle of Armageddon.